Thanksgiving 2013

We traveled from Colorado to Utah for Thanksgiving this year.  It was my brothers' year to be with our family and not their in-laws.  So, it was nice to have ALL of my siblings, and ALL of my neices and nephews there, along with my father and his wife, Sherri.

The dinner was delicious, of course, but being with family and having such bounty was the true blessing.  We had a great time playing Catch Phrase in the evening, as the kids all schemed how to spend more time together.  They just love each other so much...it warms my heart.

In the photo, from left and forward to right and forward:

Isabel Ellertson (turquoise sweater), Kyle Ellertson (red stripes), Rory Ellertson (red & beige stripes), Bryce Ellertson (gray), Sara Mac Gillvray Ellertson (green) shirt, Jim Ellertson (tall plaid), Summer Shippen Mac Gillvray (blue), Andrew Mac Gillvray (in back with blue t-shirt), Ethan Mac Gillvray (blue sleeves, grey middle), Avery Mac Gillvray (floral leggins, cream shirt), Haylee Mac Gillvray (white shirt, floral skirt), Katie Mac Gillvray (pink shirt, in front), Becca Mac Gillvray (black & white blouse), Jennifer Smith Mac Gillvray (brown sweater), Todd Mac Gillvray (blue shirt, big beard), Alex Mac Gillvray (gray & blue hoodie), Mary Mac Gillvray (in back, berry blouse), Marcie Mac Gillvray Thornbrugh (red & white shirt), Allison Mac Gillvray (pink striped shirt), Jay (Jerald) Thornbrugh (blue #61), Jorma Thornbrugh (gray and black striped shirt, on end) Timothy Mac Gillvray (sitting), Sherri Mac Gillvray (sitting).

I Can't Keep Up

I really can't keep up blogging, so I don't really try that hard--life just moves TOO FAST.  I figure, I have facebook to keep in touch with friends and family, and I have my journal to "journal" my life's happenings and thoughts.  I do enjoy blogging for certain happenings with the family. 

Rory has been in karate for a few months with his brother, Bryce (who is doing GREAT).  Rory is making great strides too though, and he earned his first white belt.  We are very proud of him!

Isabel is continuing on with her piano.  She is has been doing wonderfully, and I'm so grateful she has an accomplished teacher that gives her just the right amount of "push."  I'm so proud of how well Isabel is learning and how each music piece is learned a bit easier. 

Here are pictures and a video from her recital.
(Click on Pictures to Enlarge)

Click Here to See Isabel's Recital Performance

School Pictures 2010-11

Another school year has begun, and so far, so good. Isabel is now in 5th grade, Bryce in 3rd, Rory in Kindergarten and Kyle in Preschool. They are good students...well behaved and they enjoy learning. They all have their own strengths--and I can already see how they each learn differently, etc.

I'm so proud of my kiddos.

Breakfast with Santa

Our last horra as a primary presidency (we were release about 4 weeks ago) was this Primary Breakfast with Santa. This was the kids' time for a church Christmas party, since our ward decided to do an "adult Christmas party." We had a lot of fun planning this. I've really enjoyed working with the ladies in Primary. I already miss that connection. Anyhow, the Breakfast with Santa went really well. The decorations came together so nicely, and it all looked great. The breakfast went smoothly and the activities were great. We had a nice lady from the ward take pictures of the kids with Santa. They turned out great...although Kyle wouldn't look at the camera! The activity was WELL attended and fun. So glad. Yay!

School Pictures 2009

Every year, I've been assembling the kids' pictures into a collage. I love grouping them together...and then I enjoy seeing years past and how they've grown and changed. It's so fun watching these wonderful children grow...though, I wish it wouldn't go so quickly!

Christmas Recital 2009

I'm a proud Mom. Why wouldn't I be. My daughter is doing so well on the piano, and she is just a light in our lives--in our home and family! I have wonderful children, and when I get the chance to brag, I'm going to! Isn't that what parents are supposed to do? I feel like Kathy Lee Gifford bragging about her children Cody and ??? on TV, but now, I get it!

Isabel had her Christmas recital today. It was great--she nailed her songs and did a great job. She got a haircut today, and she was excited and I could tell that she felt pretty. Enjoy the music!

CLICK HERE FOR: Performance of Rudolf

CLICK HERE FOR: Performance of SugarPlum Fairy Duet

Halloween & The Loot

We've had a great Halloween. Parties, parties, recital, and trick-or-treating. NOW--the LOOT! The kids had a great time! It was a fabulous night for it too--who would have thought that after a week of snow being dumped on us, 3 snow days--that we would have a beautiful night for trick-or-treating...but we did!! The kids had so much fun. We put a few layers on UNDER their costumes, they wore hats, and off they went. They were plenty warm as it was so nice out. They came home happy, and bags heavy with candy. Halloween 2009=SUCCESS!!

(Isabel...thanks to Grandma and her costume making...had 3 different costumes this year....1 for our ward trunk-or-treat (Vampire), one for a birthday Halloween party (Mermaid), and one for her recital and trick-or-treating (Mulan/Geisha). WOW!)

Recital

Isabel had a piano recital today--ON HALLOWEEN! It was a lot of fun and most of the kids played something that was a bit spooky, and dressed up. Isabel played "Square Dance and Hoe Down"--and wore a kimono. She looked GREAT...and did a very nice job.

Grandma Mack--we received MANY compliments on the beautiful costume!!

Click on the link below to see Isabel's Recital!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AyHSVnROU

More Halloween Pictures to follow....

A New School Year

Another school year from my kiddos has begun. I'm so excited for my kids this year. Bryce has the same teacher that Isabel had for 2nd grade...Ms. Luebbert. She's a peach. We really like her, and Bryce already knows her a bit as she was his Tech Lab teacher last year. He's been very excited knowing that he would have her this year for his teacher.

Isabel has Mrs. Jaimes for 4th grade. (I can't believe she's in 4th grade!) Our friends have given her great compliments and told us wonderful things about Mrs. Jaimes. I was impressed at orientation and I think Isabel will enjoy being in her class. One thing I loved was that Mrs. Jaimes is a HUGE proponent of reading. Reading is so important and I hope my children enjoy it as much as I have in my life. There is NOTHING like a good book.

Here are my kiddos going off to school--and with their new teachers!

Sewing So Much

I have really been enjoying teaching myself to sew. Tackling one pattern at a time. It's been really fun to sew with friends. Several of my friends are teaching themselves right now too--or rediscovering sewing after being away from it for a long time.

There's something really rewarding creating something useful, pretty and liked.

The pj's...this is a pattern that my mother has made several times for Isabel--it has these pj's and a nightgown on the pattern...short sleeve or long...but below is what Isabel choose this time. It's so feminine and pretty and comfy and cute! I had a lot of fun making these...and it really helped having a pair that my mom had made previously for me to look at and see what she did.

The dress--I was so excited to find the fabric. She wore the dress to church today and looked really pretty. I love things that are one-of-a-kind. A friend bought this pattern and some material to make a dress for her girl...but the material is different...so what the heck...I copied her and used the same pattern...but we don't mind. We're all just having fun creating!

(Click on Picture to zoom in and see more Detail)

Accomplishments

I know...it's been FOREVER since I've blogged. I don't know why, but it just hasn't been a priority, and there really hasn't been all that much to blog about in my opinion.

Isabel & Bryce have been in karate for a few months now, and they are enjoying it and working hard. They earned their first belt and stripe last week! We were really proud of them--they worked hard (and Isabel was really nervous/excited)--but they did fabulous. The teacher is impressed with their concentration and with how hard they work. I'm a proud mama! Yay!

So, as you know, I've taken up sewing...teaching myself with the help and tips from my mom and my friend Shauna. They are both excellent seamstresses--so I'm lucky to have their help. A couple of months ago, Shauna and I went out for an evening--dinner, shopping and a movie... well after dinner, I just had to "stop in at Jo-Ann for a minute or two." We went there, and stayed....skipped the movie and stayed until it was closed. We went through and found patterns and fabric. Her family was going out of town for spring break, and since she needed to stay behind and work, we would have a whole week of evenings and 2 full week-ends to sew! Just leaving it all out and set up and sew! We've had a WONDERFUL time sewing--a week of fun.

I made a jumper for Isabel and then I made a tepee for the kids. And they both turned out! I really like the jumper and I LOVE the tepee. The kids love it and it is CUTE! I couldn't be happier! I'm still amazed that when I sew, it actually works and makes something. I can't wait for my next projects....hmmmm what will it be?

Off to Camp

So, when I heard that Isabel's Brownie troop was going to go camping, I was so excited...and then they said "January." Burrrr!!! She sold a TON of cookies though that helped make this possible, and I really didn't want her to miss out on it. And then they wouldn't be getting home until Sunday afternoon either. Well, it ended up working out. They were in cabins...nothing fancy...but HEATED. Ah, such relief! They weren't going to be digging snow caves and sleeping outside! I decided I'd travel up early Sunday morning to pick her up and be back on time for church (and we were)...so that resolved the "Sunday" thing for us.
Isabel was a little nervous about going and being away for the whole weekend and camping without family. I knew she'd have a great time though, so we said prayers and got her ready to go.
Results: She had a fabulous time. I picked up her other LDS friend Sunday morning to bring them both home, and they sang their camp songs all the way home...and it was SO SUPPER CUTE! I wish I had it recorded!! I knew from their enthusiasm that they had a good time. I'm so glad that she was able to have the good memories of Girl Scout Camp. I love the Girl Scout program for my girl--it has been great. I remember the fun I had in it when I was young, and I'm glad she can have similar memories.

Out For Some Pictures

It was a beautiful November day...unbelievable...64 today here! Tuesday is going to be 69!! Anyhow (getting side-tracked in marvel of the nice weather in NOVEMBER)...we went out today and took some family pictures. Okay, one of my major PET PEEVES in life is going to get family portraits done...or even for just one kid. Waiting for the photographer to be ready (and I have an appointment!), keeping the kids calm, keeping the kids clean, getting them to like some total stranger and actually smile for them....not my happy day. But I do love having nice portraits of the kids.

About this time of year (Christmas card time) I know I need a good family photo. Have any of you ever gotten (or sent) cards that have just pictures of kids on them, and you're thinking...who are these kids?! You really need to put your pictures on there too--so we know who is sending these to us (reading the name on the card is not enough)--I want to visually see how my friends are getting older too, after all! =) I digress again. We went out on this beautiful day, to a canyon that is mere steps away from our house (although we drove over there as to keep the kids from dilly-dallying). My friend Natalie and I worked out a trade...I put all her Christmas Card addresses into a spreadsheet so she can send out her cards this year (without having to hand-address her cards), and she take some pictures of our family with her talented eye and fabulous camera. **I love trades** We got some great photos of the family together and I wanted to share some of the fun ones with all of you. So here you go. So much better than going to a studio!!

Memory Making

I have been SO busy for SO long now, I really haven't taken much time to scrap...in fact, it's been MONTHS. For something I enjoy SO much, it makes me sad that I haven't done it in so long. I've almost ignored the urge--because I'm too overwhelmed (with other stuff) to think about it.
Last night, I was putting some Girl Scout newsletters that I've been doing for her troop, in her scrapbook. I sat and looked through my past work and realized how very much I miss it.
Tonight, I took to it! I had no meetings and didn't have to run the kids anywhere. Yay! So, after dinner, I locked myself in my office and sat down and digi-scrapped. I love doing it this way. Look below, the same layout, but I can throw them in each of my kids' books and they'll never know how much easier it was for me (and quicker) to do it this way, than to do it with actual paper. I still do miss the hands-on, cutting, gluing, etc....but this way is practical for me right now. Plus, I can get a kit of digi-scrap files, and I know that they match and that the embellishments will "work" on the page.
It felt really good to do a little "memory-making" again tonight.

Our Halloween Tribe

We had a great Halloween. It was excellent trick-or-treating (probably the best we'll EVER EVER have). The day was in the mid-70s and the evening didn't even require a jacket. Last year...2 sets of underclothes, winter coats, hats, etc. We loved it this year! Yay!
Thank you to Grandma Mac for the making of the costumes...they were so much fun and we. Thanks Auntie Marcie for letting me borrow your get-up this year...it was awesome! We had a lot of fun and a great night.

4 Little Indians

Halloween is coming and Grandma Mac really came through for us! What a fabulous seamstress and creator she is. The kids just loved being dressed up in their indian costumes. I love that they all matched. There wont be many years where they can have the same theme and matching costumes...so yes, I'm enjoying it now! Thank you --AGAIN THIS YEAR-- Grandma Mac! We love you.
Trick or Treat!

My Children, 2008-09 School Year

I love school pictures. I love it too that I can take the younger kids and get theirs done there at the school at the same time. It's easier for me to do this, than to take them to a portrait studio (one of my most UN-favorite things to do). I really love the way they turned out too. I just look at my little blessings and can't believe how full my life is--I can feel my Heavenly Father's love for me when I look at the sweet children he's entrusted to my care.
(Isabel-8, Bryce-6, Rory-3, Kyle-19mo)

She Sings

We've had this Primary Teacher Improvement Evening planned for a while and we hosted it at our home. Well, we wanted a special musical number--the song "Teacher, Do You Love Me" is so appropriate for the occasion and there is a teacher and child part. So, I thought Isabel might enjoy singing the child part. She's been practicing and singing along with the Primary CD for a while. To our great advantage, I was able to get Olivia to sing with her...and they did such a beautiful job together.

Isabel sang out and was clear and knew her words. She is such a sweety and did a beautiful job. I'm so so proud of Isabel. I'm thrilled with the kind and wonderful daughter of God she is.

1st Day of School

I have a little bit of catching up to do on my blog. Since I just had my tonsils out and I'm laid up in bed, I've got my laptop and I thought I'd get to work....in between sleeping and not eating. Ha!

Well, Bryce & Isabel went off to school just a few weeks ago. I can't believe that Isabel is in 3rd grade (I have to keep reminding myself--3rd!!), and Bryce went off to all-day-school in 1st grade! He was excited to the bus TO school and HOME FROM school. I'm so proud of my kiddos. They were so excited to go to school and get things started. I love that they love school...and I hope that continues for a long long time.

Last Day of 2nd Grade

I can't believe Isabel is done with 2nd Grade! It's gone so quickly. I know...such a cliche as parents say that all the time...but really, it did go quick!

I wasn't really ready for her to be in 2nd grade, and now she's done with it. In fact, I went to the time for the 1st grade orientation...thinking "She's in 1st Grade"--oops. Maybe this next year, I'll show up for the 2nd grade orientation?? No, I'll actually try to remember 3rd grade, 3rd grade, 3rd grade. (I have to say it over and over in my head to drill it in)

It's been a great year, and Isabel has LOVED being in Ms. Luebbert's class...she's done fabulously. Congratulations Isabel!

It's beach party day (hence the fun hair and lei)